World Cup

[Ben Purton]

Well considering no one wants to discuss the game, ill happily do it on my own.

[Ben Purton]

Gelfand has now won

[Ian Lamb]

Gelfand in to world cup final Destroying his openent 2-0 while the other semi final there a playoff .

[Jonathan Rogers]

Well, since we do, I rather fear, know the winner of the London Chess Classic already, would anyone like to predict the winner of Gelfand v Ponomariov? I had tipped the latter to make the final but have since been more impressed by the former. But I'll stick wth Pono who has clearly regained his nerves of steel.

[Alex Holowczak]

Ponomariov won the FIDE World Championship in 2002, in a tournament which was the current Chess World Cup format (apart from a longer final). I'm not all that surprised he is doing so well. On that basis, I reckon Ponomariov will get the win.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Except, of course, that Pono's career had a hefty dip between now and then - thanks not least to that *@!# Danailov

Great to see him fulfilling his potential again - as has been said, balls of steel yesterday

[Jonathan Bryant]

Well, since we do, I rather fear, know the winner of the London Chess Classic already, would anyone like to predict the winner of Gelfand v Ponomariov? I had tipped the latter to make the final but have since been more impressed by the former. But I'll stick wth Pono who has clearly regained his nerves of steel.

I'd like to see Gelfand win but that's not a prediction.

[Matt Mackenzie]

The point is, I don't really want either of them to lose!!

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well, two rather colourless draws so far. Let's hope things start hotting up tomorrow!

[benedgell]

I've found myself completely disinterested in the final. 2 short draws so far, another dull game today. It really has paled into the background since the start of The Classic.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Anyway, Gelfand won (it went to blitz) Congratulations to him, commiserations to Pono

[Alex Holowczak]

So now Gelfand, Aronian, Kamsky, the loser of Anand/Topalov, Carlsen and Kramnik (by rating probably), Gashimov (home wildcard probably), and whoever finishes 2nd in the still unfinished Grand Prix make up the candidates. Can't help but think Carlsen and Kramnik have got to this stage without really earning it.

[Mick Norris]

The regulations have changed that often, including the Grand Prix in the middle of the series, that most GMs have lost faith with FIDE

Carlsen, along with Mickey Adams, pulled out of the GP, and Kramnik never entered it - clearly they are the two in form tournament players at the moment, and the candidates would be a farce without them

I'm not sure that the World Cup is a fair way to qualify, although I'm pleased to see tough match players like Kamsky and Gelfand there

Until Nigel has sorted out FIDE, we just need to sit back, ignore the politics, and enjoy the chess

[Ben Purton]

So now Gelfand, Aronian, Kamsky, the loser of Anand/Topalov, Carlsen and Kramnik (by rating probably), Gashimov (home wildcard probably), and whoever finishes 2nd in the still unfinished Grand Prix make up the candidates. Can't help but think Carlsen and Kramnik have got to this stage without really earning it.

??????????????????????? Kramnik and Carlsen have not earnt it? WTF?!??!?!?!?!???!

[Alex Holowczak]

So now Gelfand, Aronian, Kamsky, the loser of Anand/Topalov, Carlsen and Kramnik (by rating probably), Gashimov (home wildcard probably), and whoever finishes 2nd in the still unfinished Grand Prix make up the candidates. Can't help but think Carlsen and Kramnik have got to this stage without really earning it.

??????????????????????? Kramnik and Carlsen have not earnt it? WTF?!??!?!?!?!???!

I mean, in comparison to the other qualifiers. Aronian has had to play four two-week events to qualify. Gelfand had to play a 3-week World Cup to qualify. Carlsen pulled out of the Grand Prix, knowing full well that he could get in as a wildcard anyway. He's been free to pursue other activities, such as Carlsen. Kramnik didn't enter the event either. When it looked like Kramnik would miss out, FIDE changed the criteria again so that only the World Cup winner qualified, plus a second player by rating, i.e. Kramnik. It seems a little unfair that everyone should go through rigorous qualifying procedures, and Carlsen and Kramnik can object to them, and still get in to the Candidates' Series. They deserve to be there by virtue of being the best players, yes, but they haven't really earnt it as the others have.